Author: Capt. Tyler Chandler

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Police Department is currently accepting applications for their upcoming session of the Citizen Police Academy. The academy provides community members with an inside look at local law enforcement, giving an overview of the police department’s function and operations.

The ten-week academy curriculum and teaching methodology embraces real examples of police work. The weekly sessions, however, are not designed to train participants as police officers. While attending the academy, students will be introduced to a variety of topics and training taught by police officers and special agents. Participants will have the opportunity to gain a variety of knowledge surrounding police work.

Interested candidates can visit the Mt. Juliet Police Department’s website at http://www.cityofmtjuliet.org/citizenacademy.cfm to obtain more information about the Citizen Academy and to complete the application. Applicants who are interested in the upcoming session should apply by January 8th.

If anyone has any questions regarding the upcoming Citizens Police Academy, they can call or email Cpl. Tommy Shelton at (615) 773-6248 or tshelton@cityofmtjuliet.org

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Police Department has put an end to a multistate counterfeiting and theft operation that has plagued the whole southeast United States for weeks. This was possible with the help of a local merchant and corporate security partnership that ensured Mt. Juliet Police investigators had proper information to stop the multistate crime spree.

On November 30th, 2012, Mt. Juliet Police investigators acted on information they received from Honda Corporation security of a possible theft that was scheduled to occur sometime that day by an individual using a counterfeit check at Trigreen equipment in Mt. Juliet. Det. David Stolinsky, an investigator with Mt. Juliet Police, was able to gather intelligence from authorities in Arkansas on the suspect’s possible description from an earlier theft that occurred there. Trigreen equipment and Det. Stolinsky developed a plan if the suspect was to arrive at the store. The suspect arrived Friday just before Noon, and Det. Stolinsky observed the suspect purchase several electrical generators with a counterfeit check for $7,665.51. After the suspect completed the transaction and loaded the generators into his vehicle, he was taken into custody by undercover officers waiting in the parking lot of Trigreen. The suspect was identified as Jason Quintanilla, 39, of North Bay Villiage, Florida.

Stolen Honda generators in the back of Quintanilla’s vehicle.

“This is clearly a prime example of a great partnership between private corporations, local merchants, and police,” stated Mt. Juliet Police Chief Andy Garrett, “I’m humbled that Honda Corporation and Trigreen Equipment in Mt. Juliet trusted us with the intelligence that led to this discovery and apprehension.”

Det. Stolinsky’s initial investigation revealed that Quintanilla was not only going to strike Mt. Juliet to steal generators. Quintanilla had plans to hit three other Honda generator dealers in the Nashville-Metro area. Counterfeit checks were ready to be used at Chilton Turf Center in Nashville for $4,258.57, Howard’s Honda in Nashville for $6,578.76, and Honda of Cool Springs in Franklin for $7,236.93. In addition, the Lexus SUV that Quintanilla was driving had a stolen Tennessee license plate on it that was stolen from the Providence MarketPlace area early during the day of his arrest. Quintanilla, who is part of a larger criminal operation, was making the fraudulent purchases for an unnamed individual out of state. The preprinted checks were sent to Quintanilla, and the purchases were planned prior to Quintanilla arriving at the Honda dealers. Quintanilla stated to investigators that the group he is working for is selling the stolen generators in bulk, which are being shipped out of the country. The investigation is still ongoing and intelligence obtained during this incident has been passed to many state and federal authorities who continue pursue suspects related to this criminal operation.

Jason Quintanilla was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail on the following charges:

Four Counts of Criminal Simulation (TCA 39-14-115) $20,000.00 Bond

Theft of Property < $500.00 (TCA 39-14-103) $2,000.00 Bond

Theft of Property > $1,00.00 (TCA 39-14-103) $2,000.00 Bond

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (TCA 39-14-425) $1,000.00 Bond

Jason Quintanilla, 39, of Florida

Quintanilla will appear in court on Wednesday, December 12th, 2012 at 9:00 AM in Wilson County General Sessions.

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A pizza delivery man was robbed by two men at Forrest View Apartments in Mt. Juliet. The robbery took place on Tuesday, December 4th around 11:00 PM after the 36 year old victim completed a delivery at an apartment. While the victim was walking back to his vehicle, he was approached by two suspects. One of the suspects was armed, and he ordered the victim to surrender his money. The victim complied, but the armed suspect opened the victim’s car trunk and told the victim to get in. Spooked by witnesses walking nearby, the suspects fled on foot before the victim ever had to enter his car’s trunk. The victim was able to flag down the witnesses who called police about the robbery. Mt. Juliet Police officers immediately responded two minutes after the call. Those officers searched the area for the suspects, but no one could be located.

The first suspect is described as a light skinned black male with a thin build. He is approximately 5’7” tall and 145 pounds. During the incident, he was wearing a black hoodie-style sweatshirt, black pants, and an orange bandana covering his face.

The second suspect is described as a dark skinned black male with a heavy build. He is approximately 6’2” tall and 230 pounds. During the incident, he was wearing a grey hoodie-style sweatshirt, black pants, and a blue bandana covering his face.

No one was injured during the incident, and the suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash from the victim. Mt. Juliet Police has not arrested anyone in this case, and it remains under investigation.

Anyone with any information on current investigations or ongoing crime trends is encouraged to call the Mt. Juliet Police Department at (615) 754-2550. Information can also be given anonymously by calling (615) 754-TIPS (8477) or via the Mt. Juliet Police Department website at http://www.mjpd.org/ .

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Mt. Juliet citizens can now enjoy the convenience offered by a timesaving, self service driver’s license kiosk that the City of Mt. Juliet has just received from the Tennessee Department of Safety.

The machine is designed for the renewal and ordering of duplicate Tennessee Driver’s Licenses, which only takes minutes at the kiosk. The kiosk can be found in the lobby of the Mt. Juliet Police Department, and it is available 24/7.

The easy-to-use self service kiosk, equipped with a camera and big touch screen monitor, accepts any credit or debit card payments. It resembles a small ATM and gives directions in English and Spanish. It is connected to the Tennessee Department of Safety mainframe computer and uses facial recognition software that compares old driver’s license photos with the person trying to renew or order a new license. If the faces do not match, it will reject the transaction. Licenses and ID cards are not printed at the kiosk for security reasons. Instead, a temporary driver’s license is printed in a form of a receipt, complete with a photo. The receipt is valid for two weeks until the actual license is delivered in the mail.

“I’m glad Mt. Juliet was accepted for such a great opportunity,” stated City Manager Kenny Martin, “This is a perfect solution that brings State driver’s license services just a little closer to home, which makes it much quicker and easier for our community.”

This is one of forty self service kiosks being installed throughout the State, which the City of Mt. Juliet had to apply for. For Mt. Juliet residents, the closest place to renew a driver’s license or get a duplicate license has been at the Lebanon driver service center.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn.- Mt. Juliet’s annual Christmas Parade is set for Saturday, December 8th, and will kick off at 6:00PM. Because of the large number of participants, there will be a few traffic restrictions in place prior to the evening event. The parade will begin at the First Baptist Church on N. Mt. Juliet Road and travel northbound to Charlie Daniels Parkway where it will end behind Mt. Juliet Middle School.

N. Mt. Juliet Road (SR 171) will be closed at 6:00PM to ALL traffic. The closure will be from from the intersection of NW Rutland Road to the intersection of Sunset Drive for the parade route.

The parade float staging and participant drop-off will take place at the First Baptist Church of Mt. Juliet (735 N. Mt. Juliet Road) from 2:00PM – 5:00PM prior to the parade. N. Mt. Juliet Road (SR 171) & N.W. Rutland Road will have increased traffic near the church during this time period.

The parade ending location and participant pick-up will take place at Mt. Juliet Middle School (3565 N. Mt. Juliet Road) from 8:00PM-10:00PM. N. Mt. Juliet Road (SR 171), Charlie Daniels Parkway, and Woodridge Drive will have increased traffic near the school during this time period.

The goal of the Mt. Juliet Police Department is to ensure the safety of motorists, spectators, pedestrians, and participants. If you are attending the parade, the police department suggests that you arrive prior to 6:00PM street closure. This will allow plenty of time to find parking. If you are not attending the parade, you may want to avoid the Mt. Juliet Road corridor to minimize your frustration with the road closure and large volume of traffic.

Remember, following the parade there will be a large amount of vehicle and pedestrian traffic along Mt. Juliet Road in the downtown district. Take your time, and please be considerate. Normally, the traffic following the parade will clear out in approximately 30 minutes. It is estimated that the parade traffic will be clear around 9:00PM.

For more information on Mt. Juliet Christmas Parade, you can visit the city’s website at www.cityofmtjuliet.org .

Overview of the parade staging and participant drop-off area at First Baptist Church

As holiday shoppers get ready to hit the stores this week, the Mt. Juliet Police Department is preparing to keep those people safe with Operation Safe Shopper. The initiative, which began in 2010, is geared to deterring crime in major shopping areas in Mt. Juliet with a major increase in police presence.

Starting on Black Friday, shoppers will begin to see more men and women in blue on patrol. The Operation Safe Shopper initiative was created to help deter crime, increase response times, and alleviate traffic congestion during the busy holiday shopping season.With Operation Safe Shopper, just about every member of the police force participates in the initiative. Members of the department will be patrolling in marked and undercover vehicles, on foot, and on bicycles to raise law enforcement visibility and promptly respond to calls for service in the shopping centers as well as surrounding areas. Operation Safe Shopper will run from November 23rd through December 31st throughout the holiday season.

“This is our third year with the Operation Safe Shopper initiative, and we have not had a single violent crime or any major theft in the Mt. Juliet shopping areas while this initiative has been in place,” stated Mt. Juliet Police Chief Andy Garrett.

Dep. Police Chief James Hambrick, further stated, “Mt. Juliet is one of the safest shopping destinations in Middle Tennessee. We want to ensure visitors have a positive experience while visiting our city.”

In addition, the City of Mt. Juliet has made steps to ease traffic congestion around the Interstate 40 shopping hub. The timing of the traffic light sequencing has been adjusted for all intersections near Providence MarketPlace and Paddock shopping centers.

Police offer the following holiday shopping safety tips:

Shopper Safety Tips:

Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Park in well-lighted spaces, lock car doors, and place packages out of sight in the trunk or under seats.

Do not carry large amounts of cash; pay with a check or credit card if possible.

Carry purses close to the body, not dangling by the straps.

Put wallets in an inside coat or front pants pocket.

Supervise children at all times. Teach children to go to a police officer or security guard if they get lost or separated.

Take a holiday inventory. The holidays are a good time to take photos or videos of items in your home.

Parking Lot Safety Tips:

Always be aware of your surroundings.

If shopping at night, park in well lit areas.

Never leave your vehicle unlocked.

When walking to your vehicle, look prepared by having your keys in your hand, your purse and other packages close to you, and always be aware of what is around you.

If possible, shop with other and walk in groups. It is safer to have another person with you.

If you see suspicious people or activity, go back into the store or to a populated area and contact the police immediately.

Because traffic also increases around the shopping centers during the holidays, police are also advising shoppers to take heed of the following driving tips:

Don’t block intersections. Blocking intersections causes frustrating and unsafe back-ups; that’s why it’s against the law. When the traffic signal turns yellow, avoid trying to beat the upcoming red light and pulling into and blocking busy intersections. Instead, drop back and wait for the next green light. When traffic lights are green, make sure there is adequate room to completely cross the intersection.

Don’t run red lights. Running a red light can have deadly consequences. As a result, Mt. Juliet has 7 red-light cameras designed to deter red-light offenders. Red-light citations carry a $50 fine with an additional penalty if the fine is not paid within a specified period. Violators who run a red light and are cited by a police officer can face a higher fine as well as insurance points.Contact the Mt. Juliet Police Department in case of any accidents. If the accident is minor without injury, motorists should move their vehicles out of the travel lane and into a parking lot or onto the shoulder and call Mt. Juliet Police at (615) 754-2550. For accidents involving injuries, motorists should call 911.

Watch for pedestrians. Maintain a safe speed in parking lots and be on the lookout for shoppers exiting vehicles and walking to stores.

At stop signs, come to a complete stop behind the white stop lines and not in the crosswalk. Especially when turning right on red, remember that a full stop behind the stop bar is necessary to give time to look both ways before proceeding. Look not only for cars but also for pedestrians and cyclists.

Always use a turn signal to prevent accidents. A turn signal alerts motorists of your intended action and helps prevent rear-end crashes, which is why it’s the law.

Be patient. There will be a record number of motorists and pedestrians, so a little holiday cheer will go a long way for safety.

For everyone’s safety, motorists can expect strict enforcement of these and other traffic laws as the Mt. Juliet Police Department works around the clock to make sure everyone has safe and happy holidays.

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A Mt. Juliet Police officer, who was on patrol early Thursday morning, discovered a deceased female in a parked vehicle at the U-Store-It storage facility off of Central Pike near S. Mt. Juliet Road. The woman was found shot to death in the driver’s seat. This is a homicide, and investigators are working diligently and swiftly by following all avenues that lead to the offender’s identity.

Since the early morning hours, investigators have been scouring the crime scene in the frigid temperatures to piece together every bit of evidence. Lebanon Police Department’s Forensic Unit responded to the scene, and they are assisting Mt. Juliet investigators with their experience and resources. The Medical Examiner has estimated that the death occurred anytime between 10:00PM on October 31st to when the officer first located her. The vehicle that the victim was in has been transported to a secure facility so it can be properly processed for evidence.

The victim’s identity is not being released at this time because authorities want to ensure proper family notifications have been made. The victim is not an employee of the storage facility, and there is no indication that the woman was looking at a storage unit. Also, there is no indication that this is a random killing, and the public is not in any immediate danger. This is a very unfortunate and sad event, and it is the Mt. Juliet Police Department’s mission to investigate this homicide with complete dedication to ensure that justice is met for the victim.

Anyone with any information on current investigations or ongoing crime trends is encouraged to call the Mt. Juliet Police Department at (615) 754-2550. Information can also be given anonymously by calling (615) 754-TIPS (8477) or via the Mt. Juliet Police Department website at http://www.mjpd.org/ .

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A frightening situation on a school bus about an armed bus driver in Mt. Juliet turned out to be false. Mt. Juliet Police officers quickly responded to a 911 call of an armed bus driver on a Wilson County School Bus around 3:30PM this afternoon. Once arriving on the scene, officers noticed multiple students in a nearby field who were upset and scared. The bus driver was located, and the scene was rapidly cleared by officers to ensure all children were safe.

The initial investigation revealed that the 60-year-old male bus driver, who is a substitute driver and unfamiliar with the bus route, missed a stop for a student. This caused multiple children on the bus to become belligerent where they became very loud and unruly. In an attempt to calm to children, the bus driver pulled over in a safe location hoping they would stop screaming. A parent of a student arrived where the bus was parked, and a 14-year-old male student attempted to exit the bus. While trying to exit, there was an altercation between the student and driver. The student eventually exited, but he tried to reenter to retrieve a backpack. During reentry, it was alleged that the student had his forearm shut in the bus door. This caused the parent and bus driver to argue. During the commotion, an unknown person mentioned that the bus driver was armed. That allegation frightened the other students, and they began to flee from the bus to a nearby field. The parent called 911 once there was a mention of a gun. Then, officers quickly arrived on the scene to secure the children and clear the area for a possible armed person.

After the incident, it was determined that all students were safe. The Wilson County School District was very responsive and members of the police department maintained constant communication with their leadership throughout the entire situation. Another bus with a different driver arrived on the scene to transport the students to their destinations. The bus route was #1107 with students from Mt. Juliet Middle School. There were 49 students onboard the bus during the incident. Most of the students reside in the Hickory Hills subdivision. The school system should be applauded for their quick response to ensure a successful outcome. Parents who arrived on the scene were also very cooperative, and the Mt. Juliet Police Department appreciates their understanding of this incident.

Investigators have reviewed the surveillance camera video from the bus, and It was determined that the bus driver did not do anything unlawful. The investigation continues into possible unruly charges for certain students onboard on the bus. It appears that this situation was extremely blown out of proportion by a few students, which caused the other students to become frightened.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Halloween can be a wicked good time for the whole family in Mt. Juliet as residents and children swamp the neighborhoods in creative costumes racing to see who can get the most candy. However, safety must be a top priority for parents and children. Amongst the spooky fun, it is important to make sure everyone stays safe and accounted for as they lurk to trick-or-treating. The Mt. Juliet Police Department is significantly increasing patrol officers and their presence in neighborhoods during the witching hours, but they need the help of residents so Mt. Juliet’s streets can be as safe as possible. Any unsafe mischief or driving behavior should immediately be reported to the police department so it can be stopped.

Trick-or-treating will be observed in Mt. Juliet on Wednesday, October 31st. The Mt. Juliet Police Department recommends trick-or-treating to start at 5:00PM and to stop by 10:00PM.

Parents can help by ensuring children are prepared for a safe Halloween. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children are four times more likely to be in a fatal pedestrian accident on Halloween than any other night of the year. There are several reasons why children are more likely to be hurt in pedestrian accidents, which include:

They often choose to take the shortest route, which may mean darting out between parked cars rather than take the safer route of crossing at corners.

They’re poor at evaluating potential traffic threats.

They’re more likely to disregard their peripheral vision and are less attentive of their street surroundings.

They have a tendency to believe they’re indestructible and are more likely to take risks.

They need to be told that some people driving cars will not slow down for them.

They can’t cross streets as rapidly as adults.

They may be distracted by other children’s costumes, behaviors, and home decorations.

In addition, to Mt. Juliet Police Department’s proactive patrols in the neighborhoods, they will also be out in force conducting sex offender compliance checks on Halloween. Under Tennessee law, any sex offender on parole or probation may not participate in any Halloween activity involving children. This would include leaving a porch light on, answering the door, or distributing candy. There are currently 12 registered sex offender living in the city limits of Mt. Juliet, and parents may access the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s website at http://www.tbi.tn.gov/ .

From everyone at Mt. Juliet Police, we wish you a safe Halloween. The department can be contacted at (615) 754-2550 (non-emergency) or 911 (emergency) to report any problems, observations, or safety concerns.

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Hoping to bring comfort to a child when needed most, Mollie Barr dedicates her retired life to building teddy bears of love for children involved in police-related situations. Wednesday, Mollie stopped by the Mt. Juliet Police Department with her husband Earl to deliver the furry critters for Police Officers to place in their patrol cars. Ready and prepared to serve, the bears will ride along with police officers during their tours of duty. During an officer’s shift, it is likely they will come across children involved in traumatic situations. The bears are available for the officer to give to the child, which will hopefully help put a smile on their face. When it comes to children, often the littlest things can have the biggest impact. Comforting a child at a time of crisis is a critical function of police officers.

“In situations requiring police intervention, they are often traumatic and negative,” said Deputy Chief James Hambrick, “Any little bit helps and Mollie’s bears will go far in a young child’s eyes. Our department is so thankful to have Mollie Barr in our community who wants to make a difference in a child’s life.

These are not normal stuffed animals. They are “Mollie’s Bears of Joy” because they are inspired from her heart with love. Mollie ensures they are in top-notch condition for a child who may need them. She spends her own money for the animals and even dresses them up. Prior to giving the teddy bears to the police department, Mollie stated she gave them their mission to make a difference in a child’s life.